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General Info – Discover Camp

Register for 2025!

Location

Where is Camp Horizons at Hemlock Overlook?
We are located in Northern Virginia in Clifton, VA at 13220 Yates Ford Rd, Clifton, VA 20124


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Essential Eligibility Criteria

It is our goal to partner with parents/guardians to work together to determine if Camp Horizons will be a positive experience for your camper prior to their enrollment. Safe participation requires certain physical, mental, emotional, and social health abilities, and staff are not specialized in serving those with special needs including certain mental, emotional, social, or behavioral difficulties. These requirements are not intended to be exclusionary, but to provide a safe and positive environment for all campers and staff. As each camper’s ability to participate is unique, decisions to accept a participant are made on an individual basis. As such, if your camper meets any of the following, you must contact us prior to enrolling:

  • Has had any physical health concerns that could impact their time at camp (illnesses, broken bones, mobility issues, recent surgeries, etc.)
  • Has had any mental health concerns in the last year, including anxiety, depression, etc.
  • Has been diagnosed with any learning or behavioral disabilities (autism, ODD, CD, etc.)
  • Is in a self-contained classroom or requires an aid at school

Please use the following criteria, developed according to the American Camp Association recommendations, as a guide to assess your camper’s readiness for camp. A baseline for participation in our programming, without added accommodations, entails the following:

  • Can your camper take care of their own personal hygiene? Campers must know how to wash and brush their own hair, shower independently, and care for their own basic needs
  • Are they in good health physically and emotionally?
  • Are they able to handle the aspects of summer camp like living independently in a group setting, sharing a cabin with 8-10 other campers?
  • Are they able to handle being in loud, busy environments? If not, do they have the tools to express their needs?
  • When angry or upset, are they able to keep calm and express their feelings without becoming physical?
  • Have they ever spent more than one night away from home?

We want to make sure that we are right for your camper and family and that your camper can participate in our programs. If your camper currently takes any medication for mood or focus, please do not take them off it.

Camp is a big transition for everyone, and we do not want to change anything that could make it more difficult. We expect all campers to abide by our community agreement.

Any camper whose behavior disrupts their cabin or program will be dismissed without refund.

After registration, review, complete, and then double and triple-check the Parent’s Checklist below:

  • CampSite Registration Information Complete?
  • Camp Fees Paid?
  • Forms and Waivers Complete/Submitted?
  • Arrival/Check-in Information Prepared?
  • Transportation Details Finalized/Completed? (only necessary for airport arrivals)
  • Packing List Double and Triple Checked?
  • Camper Mail Complete (addressed, mailed, etc.)
  • Camp Packing List (for a 1-week session, simply cut the recommended amount in half)

The American Camp Association provides a large number of resources, recommendations, and educational materials for parents and campers on their website dedicated to “camp parents”. Please take some time to visit their website and review the many resources available to you and your child. Please let us know if you find any particular resource incredibly helpful (or not-so-helpful), and we’ll gladly pass that feedback along to the ACA folks.

ACA Parent Resources

Vaccinations

All staff and campers are required to be vaccinated with the following:

  • DTAP
  • MMR
  • Polio
  • Chicken Pox

As part of our greater community health initiative, exemptions are not made on the above requirements. We encourage all campers be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccine.

Arrival/Departure

Arrival (Check-In) occurs between 2:30-4:00 pm on the Sunday on which your session starts. These will be in 30-minute slots to prevent congestion. Upon arrival at Camp Horizons, you will be greeted by one of our staff members and you will be directed to parking, check-in, etc. If for some reason you will be late, please call our office (540.896.7600) to let us know ASAP so we can make appropriate arrangements to ensure a warm welcome for your camper.

Departure (Check Out) takes place from 3:00-4:00 pm on the last day of the camp session (Friday). We do not require specific time slots for camper pick-up. Upon arrival, parents and guardians should carefully drive to the same parking area they used during check-in. Additional instructions will be given at that time.

Meals

Meals

Here at Camp Horizons, our dining team strives to offer a variety of food that is kid-friendly and healthy. Each meal features a hot food option, typically an entrée and sides. We offer alternatives for each meal, in the form of salad and sandwiches for lunch and dinner and a

cereal bar for breakfast. Fruit is available at all meals and throughout the day. Campers eat with their cabin groups during meals and participate in the cleanup process. Snack opportunities are available throughout the day and provided during evening program. Hot beverages such as tea, coffee, and hot chocolate are not available to campers.

We can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets if noted on registration. Additionally, we include diets that do not consume fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, soy, and sesame. Please note that we are a nut-aware camp. If your camper has a specific food allergy or other special dietary need not listed above, please call us to familiarize us with your camper’s needs. We will work with you to accommodate their needs. If you wish to provide food to supplement your campers’ dietary requirements, please give us a call to speak with our Dining Services Director.

Communication at Camp

Technology-Free Camp

Here at Camp Horizons, we are a technology-free camp. We take immense pride in providing a technology-free environment. Our commitment to fostering genuine connections, outdoor exploration, and immersive experiences is reflected in our decision to keep technology at bay during camp sessions. By creating a space free from electronic devices, we aim to encourage interpersonal relationships, enhance creativity, and promote a deeper connection with nature.

At Camp Horizons, we believe that unplugging from screens allows children to fully engage in the magic of camp life, fostering personal growth and memorable adventures that will last a lifetime. We have found that phones, smart watches, tablets, and computers only disconnect children further and prevent them from getting a true camp experience. Any technology your child does bring will be removed from their possession and kept in the office until check-out.

Mail and Packages

Campers and parents have the option to send letters and postcards through the USPS. Parents and authorized users will also be able to “email” their camper through Camp Today. You may send as many of these letters as you wish. These emails will be printed out at 11 am daily and dispersed to your campers after lunch, during horizontal time. Campers will be able to respond to these by writing messages on “email sheets” that will be scanned into our system and then sent electronically back to the intended recipient.

We have a NO-PACKAGE policy here at camp and do not allow campers to receive packages. Please make sure your camper has everything they need for their session. Exceptions will be made in necessary cases such as eyewear or medication replacement.

Photographs

Photos are a big part of camp, for both us and you. We love sharing as many photos as possible with you on a daily basis through our viewing portal using your Parent Dashboard login. Only the names and emails associated with the camper will have access to these pictures. We employ full-time photographers who upload Monday-Saturday but that does not necessarily mean you will see daily photos of your camper. We put all photos on the Parent Dashboard, as well as a selection on our social media pages.

Refund Policy

What is your refund policy?

In the case of serious accident, illness, or other extenuating circumstances, refunds will be provided at the discretion of the Camp Director. No refunds or reductions are made for late arrival or early departure from camp. Any camper whose behavior disrupts the camp program or is harmful to themselves or others will be dismissed with no refund. Please make sure your camper meets our Essential Eligibility Criteria prior to enrolling.

  • $375 non-refundable registration fee per session per camper required at time of enrollment. For cancellations made prior to May 1, families are eligible for a refund less registration fees.
  • All cancellations on or after May 1 are nonrefundable.